Jack McGeary Stats & Scouting Report

IP	279
ERA	5.097
WHIP	1.663
BB/9	5.806
SO/9	8.387

Full name John Anthony McGeary
Born 03/19/1989 in Boston, MA
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Roxbury Latin School
Drafted in the 6th round (190th overall) by the Washington Nationals in 2007 (signed for $1,800,000).

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McGeary had separated his non-throwing shoulder playing basketball during the winter, and he did it again while diving for a ball at first base just 48 hours before he was scheduled to make his 2007 pitching debut, but he showed no signs of injury this spring. As polished and steady a prep lefty as there is in the nation, McGeary sits consistently in the 87-90 mph range with his fastball, touching 91, and he figures to add velocity as he fills out his tall frame, which invites comparisons to Andy Pettitte's. McGeary can spot the pitch to all four quadrants of the zone, and his above-average 76-78 mph curveball is a legitimate out pitch that he commands very well. McGeary also flashes an average changeup that he rarely has to use. He has a smooth, easy delivery, though he breaks his hands really low near his knees during his windup. McGeary could also be a power-hitting first baseman should he wind up at Stanford, but he might be signable if he goes in the first round. As a Massachusetts native, he's a Red Sox fan and has already been interviewed by a Red Sox fan blog.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The Nationals signed McGeary for a sixth-round-record $1.8 million bonus and agreed to pay for him to attend classes at Stanford from September through early June for the first three years of his career. While living with three Cardinal pitchers (including Drew Storen), McGeary took 20 credit hours per week to get on track to graduate by June 2010. He decided to skip the spring quarter in 2009 to be with the Nationals from spring training through the end of the minor league season, before returning to Stanford for the fall and winter. But McGeary's first season as a full-time pro pitcher didn't go as planned. He struggled mightily with his control, even after a demotion to Vermont, and averaged a jarring 6.9 walks per nine innings. Mechanical problems largely accounted for McGeary's wildness. He has a tendency to get too deep on the back side of his delivery, causing him to get under the ball and throw uphill. He also struggles to repeat his release point and stay in sync. All of that took a toll on his fastball command, and his velocity wavered between 85-91 mph. He still shows good finish on his downer curveball at times, but his feel for the pitch comes and goes. He continues to develop his changeup, and at his best it gives him a third average or better pitch. McGeary is still young and has the potential to be a middle-of-the-rotation starter someday, but 2010 is a crucial year for him. The Nationals have seen other high-profile arms get derailed similarly in recent years (Colton Willems, Mike Hinckley, Clint Everts, Josh Smoker), and they need McGeary to get back on track to avoid that sort of wandering path through the minors.
In order to buy the cerebral McGeary out of a commitment to Stanford, the Nationals not only had to give him a sixth-round-record $1.8 million bonus, but they had to pay for him to attend classes at Stanford from September through early June for the first three years of his career. He didn't report for the 2008 season until mid-June, then led the Gulf Coast League with 64 strikeouts in 60 innings. He spent 10 days in instructional league in the fall, then headed back to college. McGeary is very advanced for his age and experience level. He has superb feel for his above-average curveball, which he can throw in the mid-70s with tight 12-to-6 action, or with more lateral break by dropping his arm angle, or with bigger, slower break for first-pitch strikes. After pitching at 85-87 mph with his fastball during his pro debut, he worked at 88-91 in 2008. He commands his fastball very well. He's an exceptional athlete with a commanding mound presence. McGeary is very dedicated to his offseason workout regimen, but he still needs to add strength, like most young pitchers. He's learning to throw his changeup when behind in the count, and he must improve his command of the pitch. It has good action and projects as an average offering, but it remains inconsistent. McGeary is ready for low Class A once he rejoins the Nationals in June, though he might need a few tuneup outings first. He projects as a mid-rotation starter in the Andy Pettitte mold and could reach the majors by 2011.
McGeary entered last spring as a potential first-round pick, but he separated his non-throwing shoulder playing basketball. He showed toughness by pitching through the discomfort, though he lost some velocity on his fastball. The Nationals bought him out of a commitment to Stanford by giving him a $1.8 million bonus, a record for the sixth round, and allowing him to be a full-time student for the next three years. McGeary draws comparisons to Andy Pettitte for his size, stuff and smooth, effortless arm action. His power curveball is the best in the system, a tight mid-70s hammer that he can throw for strikes or get hitters to chase out of the zone. When he's healthy, his fastball sits in the 87-90 mph range, and he should add a bit of velocity as he matures. He's an exceptional athlete with a commanding mound presence. The separated right shoulder caused McGeary to get into some bad habits on his front side and led his command to lapse at times in the spring, but he has shown impeccable command in the past. He flashes an average changeup but hasn't had to use it much in high school, so it needs some development. Though he's not overpowering, McGeary is very polished and should move quickly through the system, starting with a likely promotion to low Class A in 2008. He could be a No. 2 or 3 starter down the road.

Minor League Top Prospects

McGeary's Stanford commitment scared off teams in the 2007 draft, dropping him to the sixth round. Shortly before the signing deadline, he signed for a deal that gave him a $1.8 million bonus and allowed him to attend Stanford from September through May for three years. After pitching just two pro innings last year, McGeary led the GCL in starts (12), innings (60) and strikeouts (64). He finished strong, striking out 18 and allowing only one earned run in his last 14 innings. A tall, projectable lefthander, McGeary features an upper-80s fastball that currently tops out at 91 mph. His best pitch is a sharp-breaking curveball with major league bite and depth. He also throws a changeup that's at least an average pitch. He commands all three pitches well and has the ability to throw each of them for strikes in any count. "This kid is going to be a real pitcher, not a power guy," GCL Nationals manager Bobby Henley said. "He's going to change speeds and locate down in the zone with his fastball and changeup, and then put you away with his breaking ball."